Events This Week

"Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story on Stage" is an unprecedented live experience, exploding with heart-pounding music, passionate romance and sensational dancing. Seen by millions across the globe, this worldwide smash hit tells the classic story of Baby and Johnny, two fiercely independent young spirits from different worlds who come together in what will be the most challenging and triumphant summer of their lives.

Who Knew, an event bringing together entertainment industry professionals for thought-provoking discussion and networking opportunities, returns Thursday, September 24. The September 24 event features industry leaders who’ve fundamentally impacted the creation and distribution of a product—be it music, platform or device. Plus, live music by acclaimed singer/songwriter Matthew Perryman Jones and The Mulligan Brothers. Purchasing tickets in advance is highly recommended; this event typically sells out.

The inauguration ceremony of Megan Barry (Mayor-elect), C. David Briley (Vice Mayor-elect) and new members of the Metropolitan Council will be held Friday, September 25 at 2 pm in Public Square in front of the Historic Metro Courthouse. In the event of rain, ceremonies will be held in the Grand Ballroom of the Music City Center. Complimentary parking and shuttle service will be provided for this event beginning at 1 pm.

Visit Wizard World Nashville Comic Con to see stars like Danny Trejo, Candice Patton, Jewel Staite, John Schneider, Erik Estrada, Larry Wilcox, Jim Cummings, Adam Baldwin and hundreds more! A first-class lineup of topical programming takes place all three days including celebrity Q&As, the Wizard World Film Festival, comics-themed sessions, costume contest, movie screenings and more. Wizard World Nashville Comic Con is also the place for cosplay, with fans young and old showing off their best costumes throughout the weekend. Top artists scheduled to attend are Michael Golden, Howard Chaykin, Ken Kelly and Larry Elmore.

Enjoy free admission to the Frist Center for the Visual Arts on Saturday, September 26 as a part of Smithsonian Magazine's 11th annual Museum Day Live! Click here to register to receive a free ticket (good for two admissions).

This sixth annual event is sponsored by You Have the Power, the Tennessee Department of Correction and TRICOR. You Have the Power is a nonprofit founded by former Tennessee First Lady Andrea Conte with the mission to educate, advocate and empower people and communities who are impacted by violent crime. The 5K walk begins and ends at the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge.

The JDRF One Walk is a way for attendees to show support for those living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and raise funds for JDRF, the leading global organization focused on T1D research. This one-mile walk begins and ends in Bicentennial Mall. All walkers can enjoy complimentary bagels, coffee and hot chocolate from Bruegger's Bagels as well as fruit and cold beverages before the walk. After the walk, there will be complimentary drinks and food trucks on-site with items available for purchase. The event also includes bounce houses, a photo booth, tie-dye, temporary tattoos and hair dye, balloon artists, T1D resource booths and much more. Click here for the route. Please note: road closures associated with this event. 6th Avenue North (Harrison Street to Jefferson Street), west-bound lane of Harrison Street (6th Avenue North to 7th Avenue North), and 7th Avenue North (Harrison Street to Jefferson Street) will be closed from 8 am until 11 am on Saturday, September 26.

Saint Thomas Health Ministry presents its Day of Hope, Healing & Health on Saturday, September 26. Services provided at no cost include medical, dental and vision care, social services, spiritual care, medications by the Dispensary of Hope and more. No appointment necessary.

The Grand Master Fiddler Championship is the premier contest of its kind, with the aim of recognizing the top fiddler in North America. Past winners such as Mark O'Connor and Jimmy Mattingly have had hugely successful recording and touring careers. Competition rounds will take place on both days, interspersed with performances by renowned old-time and bluegrass musicians. The winning Grand Master Fiddler Champion will return in 2016 to perform at the Grand Ole Opry and serve as a contest judge.

Kick off Banned Books Week with Freedom Sings—a critically acclaimed multimedia experience featuring music that has been banned, censored or sounded a call for social change. Freedom Sings is the inspiring story of free speech in America told through rock, pop, hip-hop and country music. Banned Books Week, launched in 1982, is the national book community's annual celebration of the freedom to read. The celebration for 2015 is Sunday, September 27 - Saturday, October 3.

The Frist Center, in partnership with the Vanderbilt Institute for Coffee Studies, CREMA, A Coffee Brewtique and Music City Baroque, presents an afternoon of classical music inspired by everyone’s favorite beverage—coffee! Enjoy delicious coffee as you listen to the music of master composers, including J. S. Bach’s famous “Coffee Cantata.” The program will also include a brief talk by Dr. Ted Fischer, the director of Vanderbilt’s Center for Latin American Studies and the Institute of Coffee Studies, bringing to life the coffeehouses of early twentieth-century Vienna. Enjoy the delights of Baroque music, the taste of expertly brewed coffee and the world of the artists featured in "Postcards of the Wiener Werkstätte: Selections from the Leonard A. Lauder Collection."

Enjoy the first Tennessee Titans home game of the 2015 regular season as they take on the Indianapolis Colts! The Titans will partner with LP Building Products on Sunday, September 27 for the 11th Annual LP Pencil Box School Supply Drive benefiting Metro Nashville students. Donations will be gathered outside Nissan Stadium prior to the game and include pencil boxes, backpacks, notebook paper and more. Please note: road closures associated with this event. The Woodland Street Bridge will close beginning as early as 9 am and will be available to only pedestrians and shuttle buses through the conclusion of the game. Plus, the Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge will be open to eastbound and westbound traffic until the beginning of the fourth quarter. At the beginning of the fourth quarter, the Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge will be open to westbound traffic only.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 - FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2

Several local downtown businesses, including AT&T, Boyle, Nashville Downtown Partnership, Nashville Predators, SunTrust and Waller Law, have come together to create downtown Nashville’s largest clothing drive to benefit Dress for Success Nashville, a program of the YWCA of Nashville and Middle Tennessee. Drop off locations include the AT&T Building, Bridgestone Arena, Nashville City Center (Suite 2700), One Nashville Place and SunTrust Plaza. Everyone who donates women’s clothing for the Women Helping Women event will have a special day to shop on Saturday, October 24 at Kendra Scott Jewelry and receive a 15% discount on purchases. Plus, 20% of proceeds will benefit Dress for Success.

The library's hit music series continues. Bring a lunch to the library courtyard and enjoy free music by top acts in many genres every Tuesday through October 6. Hear Jerry Douglas and friends play bluegrass and more on Tuesday, September 29. Douglas is a 13-time Grammy winner and three-time CMA Musician of the Year. His latest solo release, "Traveler," teams him with such world-class talents (and avowed Douglas admirers) as Eric Clapton, Paul Simon, Mumford & Sons, Keb' Mo' and many more.

Jenny Lawson, aka The Bloggess, will discuss her new book, "Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things." This salon is a free, ticketed event. A limited number of tickets will be available on-site 30 minutes before show time on the event date. Advance tickets are limited. To receive a priority spot in the signing line, you must purchase a copy of the author’s latest book from Parnassus Books.

The 29th Annual Progressive Party begins at Skull's Rainbow Room (222 Printers Alley), continues to The Stage on Broadway (412 Broadway) and ends at the Hard Rock Cafe (100 Broadway). Admission includes delicious food from downtown restaurants including Jack's Bar-B-Que and Puckett's Gro. & Restaurant, wine, beer and spirits. Plus, musical entertainment at each stop and a silent auction at the Hard Rock Cafe. Steve Buchanan, President of Opry Entertainment Group and Executive Producer of TV show “Nashville,” will receive the 2015 Spirit of The DISTRICT Award. Click here to purchase tickets in advance. Proceeds from this event go to support The DISTRICT's holiday decorations and other projects of The DISTRICT.​

Clean and Safe Request Form

If you notice something amiss while walking downtown, please let us know about it! Report graffiti that needs to be removed, public sidewalks that need pressure washing, weeds, trash and other unsightly items! Use this form to send a request directly to our Clean and Safe Team manager. NOTE: these services are only available in the CBID and the GBID (maps of these areas are provided on the form page).

Convention Update

Large groups and events (500+ attendees) that are downtown September 23 - October 7, 2015 include United Pentecostal Church International (8,000, September 22 - 25), National Hardwood Lumber Association (600, September 30 - October 3), Computer Services, Inc. (1,100, September 29 - October 2), Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (12,000, October 1 - 8) and Governor's Housing Summit (700, October 6 - 8). For more information concerning conventions, call 615-259-4782. Click here for a complete listing of Nashville conventions: visitmusiccity.com/conventions.

Submit downtown area events, news, and other information to be published in thisnewsletter by using our online form or by contacting Andrea Champion (615-743-3097)at the latest by the Monday of the week to be profiled.